Nevada County picayune., 1887-01-05

wind to break the stiffness, and a little fiutter of red and yellow lea yes against the window panes through which 1 could see the set tug sun. It was all autumn pie ture. Icould not remember where l let go of life, and calling aloud, l said "Where am IF" The sound of my own voice was strange. l tried again to think, and remem- bered with a shudder as I closed my eyes. Yes, something terrible had happened-I remembered it now. And what had become Of her? As opened my eyes it was 10 look straight into the depths oi hers. She laid one cool hand on my forehead and placed the fingers of her other on my wrist.
 Am 1 dreamingf said, reach ing out to see if she was real. "Where am I?"
 "Hush," she said smiling faintly, you are not dreaming, but you must not talk. You have been ill |, very i'll. Ton are in Slabtown, but you are with friends. You must he very quiet"
 Where had l heard of Slabtown! l closed my eyes to think, and aealn saw the sign of such pre- tentious dimensions with it's glar- ing white lettered inscription When you Hear the Bell lookout for the Cares s"-and this was the pretty brOwn-eyed girl, with her cool hands smoothing my brow, that got on that day at Slabtowu. Surely l had not been ill in vain. I must be still, she said, if wished to get we'll, 1 was in no hurry to recover while those soothing hands ministered to my comforts. Every morning ] grew restless watching for her. One morning l said to her:
 ''lf you do not come earlier and read to me yOu will throw me into a fever"
 She laughed a little quiet laugh that frightened her face tor no- ment only, and taking up her book said, looking away from me:
 "What shall read to dayW
 "Come talk to me-" pleaded, like spoilt child; "I am so fever ish.n She laid her hand on my cheek, and pressed it to my throbbing temple. Do you know there + wonderful magnetism in that handg" 1 said. still holding mine over it, ''something so sooth- ing in it's touch. so restful.'
 Just the faintest blush tinged her cheek as she quietly drew it away. "Please don't"
 II won't talk any more if you will lay it on my eyelids, just to rest them little bit" 1 said, pee vishly. She Sat down by me in silence, while l held her soft fin gers on my eyes. Every day she was growing more essential to my happniess, tho l knew no more of her life than 1 did tue day l first saw her on the caIs. She had never talked of herself, and l new CT could find heart to ask. Her shy reserve had been a source of continual exasperation to my pee wish condition since the begin ming of my cOnvalesceuce.
 The bright autumn leaves were brown and scar. and November found me still too faint and weak to travel .- which l was in no bur. ry to do. l had ofIen seen an old man trotting a golden haired child to Cranberry Cross" before d cozy fire in the next room. It was such pretty picture. l knew the old man was ''dranpapa," and the companion piece "dranmama." More than that l had never learn ed, One evening cOuxed the lit tle girl to come and talk with me. "Whose little girl are youW l said blurting the question nearest my heart.
 "DOn f % know my mama,' she answered, looking up into my face with an injured air, "at tonnes in here and weads to oop "To be snre,'' said as I pressed her warm little handS, while the cold chils were creeping on me, "but where k your papa" X shadow fell on the bright face fora second. "Oh, hes doru up to Hebbin," she replied, leaning on my knee and studying my face with more scruti-